Carnivorous & Coastal Plain Plant Collection

An immersive and educational experience about an imperiled and biologically rich region that exists just a few hours away from Duke Gardens.

The newly reimagined Carnivorous and Coastal Plain Plant Collection features a variety of carnivorous plants native to North Carolina, including pitcher plants and Venus flytraps displayed in elevated beds and small floating plant islands around the Sunny Pond, a water feature located at the southern end of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. The garden also features the charismatic neighbors that grow in moist, nutrient-poor soils along with them, such as pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens), several species of bog orchids and the delightful orange milkwort (Senega lutea), also known as “Bog Cheetos”.  A new boardwalk leads guests over the water to a small arbor with seating and surrounded by plantings that emulate the diversity of the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

How do Venus flytraps trap flies? The flytrap’s modified leaves have several trigger hairs that, when all are touched at the same time, initiates a pressure change that snaps the trap shut. The body of the insect is then broken down and digested by the plant. Since this process is energy-intensive, frequent triggering without obtaining food weakens and kills the traps, so please do not touch the plants.

When it comes to pollination, how do carnivorous plants know which bug is friend and which is food? Some like the pitcher plants (Sarracenia sp.), produce their stunning flowers in the spring before they grow that year’s pitfall traps or “pitchers”. Others such as the sundews (Drosera sp.) and Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) may hold their flowers aloft well away from their traps, attracting different types of insects for pollination and for prey. Hummingbirds and butterflies pollinate the butterworts (Pinguicula sp.), both of which are too big to be caught on the plant’s small, sticky leaves.

Hybridization is the genetic crossing between two species which can result in a novel offspring. Some genera of plants can interbreed with one another readily, while others may have barriers in place to keep hybridization from occurring. All species of American pitcher plants (Sarracenia sp.) are capable of hybridizing with one another. Pictured below are the yellow pitcher plant (S. flava) and the purple pitcher plant (S. purpurea) along with a naturally occurring hybrid of the two species. This cross, called Sarracenia x Catesbaei, has an intermediate form between its two parental lines. Plant breeders capitalize on this genetic behavior by making repeated crossings of different species pairings, creating unique and beautiful new forms.

Hybridization is the genetic crossing between two species which can result in a novel offspring. Some genera of plants can interbreed with one another readily, while others may have barriers in place to keep hybridization from occurring. All species of American pitcher plants (Sarracenia sp.) are capable of hybridizing with one another. Pictured below are the yellow pitcher plant (S. flava) and the purple pitcher plant (S. purpurea) along with a naturally occurring hybrid of the two species. This cross, called Sarracenia x Catesbaei, has an intermediate form between its two parental lines. Plant breeders capitalize on this genetic behavior by making repeated crossings of different species pairings, creating unique and beautiful new forms.

The Coastal Plain is home to some of most species-rich ecosystems in the world, including mixed pine-hardwood forests, cypress swamps, pocosins, maritime forests, estuary wetlands and pine savanna. Because the region was never covered in ice during the last series of ice ages (2.6 million – 11,000 years ago), many northern plant species migrated south into this aptly named “ice age refugia,” adding to the area’s overall plant diversity. Despite the Coastal Plain appearing flat, small variations in topography along with repeated changes in historic sea level created new niches for plants. Some moved to higher and drier ground, while others evolved to tolerate constant soil moisture. Moreover, diverse soil types, pH and the effect of frequent wildfires played roles in creating and maintaining this plant diversity.

Today, the Coastal Plain is home to an incredible 1,816 endemic species, including carnivorous plants, grasses, myriad wildflowers and trees. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, climate change and poaching for the plant trade, it is classified as a biodiversity hotspot– a region that features at least 1,500 endemic plant species and has lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation. Other hotspots include South American rainforests, the Mediterranean basin, and Madagascar.

Questions about the collection?

Please contact us at gardens@duke.edu.